Adrian_Thompson wrote:Keith Tanner wrote: One of the most raced cars in the world was designed as a convertible but is almost always raced as a coupe.In this country maybe, but not elsewhere.
Must be due to regulations - because the first guy to slap a hardtop on there will running be at the front of the pack.
I've come to the realization that all my hero race cars were either purpose built or tintops. I'm having trouble coming up with a production convertible in my own particular pantheon of legends. I'm counting convertibles with hardtops as coupes.
Ooo, got one. Although I suspect it was never really intended as a ragtop, just a tonneau.
In reply to PHeller:
What makes a convertible more fun?
Allard, Alvis, Austin Healey, Bentley, MGTC-D's, Morgan, late 30's BMW 328...
Pre-War Europe, and 50's + SCCA/sports cars.
Targa top is a neat convertible option. Also, stows easily on the 914.
In reply to DWNSHFT:
and the Fiat X-1/9:
When Toyota copied the X-1/9 (poorly) for their MR-2, they ditched the beloved targa top and dipped into the 80's styling bin a bit too much and ruined the clean lines of the Fiat.
turboswede wrote: When Toyota copied the X-1/9 (poorly) for their MR-2, they ditched the beloved targa top and dipped into the 80's styling bin a bit too much and ruined the clean lines of the Fiat.
Cocaine's a hell of a drug.
Lotus Eleven?
Will wrote:turboswede wrote: When Toyota copied the X-1/9 (poorly) for their MR-2, they ditched the beloved targa top and dipped into the 80's styling bin a bit too much and ruined the clean lines of the Fiat.Cocaine's a hell of a drug.
I'm well known as an anti Toyota voice on here, but I do love the original MR2. I about E36 M3 myself when it was launched, but I was 15 at the time. Now it just embodies pure 80's awesome.
MadScientistMatt wrote: Lotus Eleven?
You can still build a Westfield XI. They seem to be doing 'another' batch of them due to demand
Although technically I would argue that a convertible should really "convert" from closed to open...
In reply to Adrian_Thompson:
is that AW11 on VW teardrop wheels? One of the things that I love about AW11's is their triangle wheels
nicksta43 wrote: In reply to PHeller: What makes a convertible more fun?
If you have to ask, you really won't get it. Take a vintage sports car out for a fall eveining run through a twisty canyon road and you WILL get it. The smells of the outside, the sound of the car echoing off the valley walls, the wind in your hair, and the visibility all combine to make magic.
A coupe or sedan isolates you from the outside world. A convertible invites it in and makes you part of the world around you. it simply is more fun, because it's just more of everything.
A friend of mine races a drop top E30 BMW in NASA GTS. he had a cheap convertible body so he threw a cage in it and swapped the parts from his bent, broken and Burnt Spec E30 and was back at in no time. I will have to find a picture.
Here's one in a event photographer's flicker. I don't have the skill to hot link it.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/outsidethegarage/14629033913/in/set-72157645578479742
In reply to captdownshift:
Toyota had a teardrop wheel that looks much like the VW ones.
I loved viewing this thread.
In reply to Chris_V: I hope you don't think that and at the same time, dislike or hate motorcycles. 
I am noticing a trend that almost all of the drop top race cars don't have the retractable top.
You'll need to log in to post.
